26 February 2024
With the state financial support of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport, the working team of the National Cinema Center of Armenia, headed by director Shushanik Mirzakhanyan, participated in the 74th Berlin International Film Festival’s European Film Market from February 15-20.
The design of the Armenian stand, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the world-famous film director and scriptwriter Sergey Parajanov, was exceptionally captivating and attracted both fans of Parajanovs art and industry professionals alike. Throughout the film market, the Armenian stand enjoyed a steady stream of visitors interested in updates on Armenian cinema and any initiatives related to the Masters centennial. On February 17, the Happy Hour reception, a tradition at the film market, took place at the Armenian stand of the European Film Market. The Cinema Center presents exclusively Armenian-made products for hospitality, aiming to promote Armenian products and manufacturers internationally once again. Armenian hospitality, as always, created a warm and bustling atmosphere, with many international partners in attendance: CEOs and other representatives of cinema centers and institutions, as well as international guests participating in the film market, producers and industry professionals. During the whole period of the film market, the Armenian stand hosted many pre- planned business meetings, as well as no less effective meetings that took place impromptu. The active participation of Armenian producers in the film market is noteworthy, some of them organized and held their meetings in the Armenian stand.
On February 19th, in Berlin, at the Armenian stand of the European Film Market, the National Cinema Center of Armenia and the National Center of Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC) of the French Republic signed a document for the implementation of the France-Armenia Action Program in the field of cinema and moving image. This plan includes bilateral cooperation in the cinema sector, focusing on film heritage, training and professional education, co-production, and partnerships with festivals.
It’s worth mentioning that as a result of the negotiations that started back in 2023, the cooperation agreement in the field of education between the National Cinema Center of Armenia and the French Cinema Center (CNC) was finally approved this year at the European Film Market. As a result, Armenian scriptwriters will have the opportunity to participate in scriptwriting courses in France. During the film market, officials from the National Cinema Center of Armenia met with representatives of various international film institutions. Through these meetings, agreements were reached and cooperation programs for 2024-2025 were approved.
During the market meetings were held with Federico Gironi, the curator of the "Venice Classics" section of the Venice International Film Festival, Michal Bregant, the director of the National Archives of the Czech Republic, Karel Och, the artistic director of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Aleksandra Bojovic, the director of the Film Center of Montenegro, Annika Haupts, a representative of the "Berlinale Classics" section of the Berlin International Film Festival, Triin Tramberg, the director of the Discovery Campus industrial platform of the Black Nights International Film Festival, Jacques Jagou and Frederic Rhouault, representatives of MK2 Films, Susanne Newman, the executive director of Eurimages, Leena Nazari, Film Facilitation Office (Ministry of I&B Desk, India) and others. Behind the scenes of these unprecedented successes is the non-stop work and persistent struggle for the development, popularization and representation of Armenian cinema on international platforms.
